At this point a year ago, the Buffalo Bills were 3-4. Same as this year.

So why is there so much less gloom, and so much more optimism, surrounding this club?

Seven reasons:

1. DOUG MARRONE: The new head coach boldly put up motivational signs around One Bills Drive in the spring, reminding not just players but everyone in the organization what their ultimate goal should be, and is: to win a Super Bowl. Some laughed. Cynics snickered. But players didn’t. Perhaps the best message Marrone continually reinforces, emblazoned on a banner inside the team’s indoor practice facility is “Don’t confuse effort with results.” Has Marrone been flawless after 10 months on the job? No. No one could be. He poorly handled the Mario Williams injury situation at the start of training camp, and doesn’t need to constantly remind us he’s being “totally honest” at news conferences; that’s expected. But Marrone has been willing to take gutsy chances, starting with hiring so many assistant coaches with little or no NFL experience. Because of the energy he has brought, and the fact he makes no apologies for setting high bars, his players appear to be all in. A good start.

2. MIKE PETTINE: The key hire by Marrone. The former New York Jets defensive coordinator has taken most of the same roster with which Dave Wannstedt failed so epically last season and made the Buffalo defence at least respectable, for the first time since … exactly. Considering the secondary has been so banged up, there appears to be nowhere for the defence to go but up. Pettine might not be as consistently aggressive a play caller as expected with the pass rush (e.g., too many three-man rushes inside the Bills’ 10), but consider this: After seven games in 2012, the three worst point totals surrendered were 52, 48 and 45. This year: 37, 27, 27. Progress.

3. MARIO/DAREUS/KYLE: The D-line that was supposed to wreak havoc on the NFL last year shows more signs by the week that its time is now. Mario Williams is tied for second-most sacks in the NFL, with 10; Kyle Williams continues to make disruptive plays in clutch moments; and third-year D-tackle Marcell Dareus seems on the cusp of becoming the run-stuffing, play-busting interior penetrator everyone thought he could be. Mario and Marcell need to step it up when the Jets visit the Ralph on Nov. 17. In three games against the Jets as a Bill, Mario has been invisible.

4. THE LEGEND OF KIKO: With a tip o’ the cap to #BillsMafia for that label, rookie linebacker Kiko Alonso has been one of the league’s top first-year players after two months, and one of the most productive linebackers of any vintage. Alonso led the league in tackles after Week 5 and ranks third now, with 70. He’s still tied for the league lead with four interceptions. Best of all, the California-raised duuuude has made many of his best plays in game-deciding moments.

5. NO-NAME SECONDARY STEPPING UP: Maybe this says more abut the Patriots’ and Ravens’ receiving corps, but any fan who says he thought the injury-ravaged Bills secondary could be anything but an embarrassment in press-man coverage is lying. Aaron Williams was a player possessed against the Ravens. And Leodis McKelvin — yes, him — is tied for fifth in the NFL with nine pass breakups, alongside Aqib Talib of the Pats and Patrick Peterson of the Cards. Undrafted rookie Nickell Robey makes mistakes and is tiny, but in press-man coverage he’s almost unshakeable. And the top corner, Stephon Gilmore, returned only two weeks ago with a medicine ball taped to one wrist.

6. FRED JACKSON: The veteran running back has been banged up almost continuously. So has backfield mate C.J. Spiller. But F-Jax grinds out yards when none seemingly are there to be had. He’s a fearless inside runner and vital pass receiver who, thus far, has been the heart, soul and source of grit for the offence.

7. TIMELY, CLUTCH QB PLAY: If not consistent. But what do you expect from two guys — rookie EJ Manuel and undrafted journeyman backup Thad Lewis, the latter temporarily thrust into the starter’s role — who have a combined eight starts in the NFL? Manuel’s two TD passes in the opener against the Pats showed his class, while the winning 80-yard drive he engineered with no timeouts against a stingy Carolina defence won’t soon be forgotten. And Lewis did something neither Tom Brady nor Matt Stafford could do this month against the Bengals: lead his team on two TD drives in the fourth quarter. Like Manuel, Lewis needs to stop checking down so much and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett needs to call more quick slants and medium-range passes.

john.kryk@sunmedia.ca

@JohnKryk

blogs.canoe.ca/krykslants/

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THE 3 BIG MATCHUPS

Christian Ponder vs. The World

No one in Minny wants him to start at QB anymore. His coaches. His front office. Surely Vikings Nation. That’s why the club picked up Josh Freeman and unwisely rushed him into service on Monday. Freeman failed miserably against the Giants, and got concussed. He won’t suit up against the Pack. Ponder has his old job back, temporarily. Does anyone think he can lead the Vikes to a win?

Jason Campbell vs. Chiefs defence

Weeden. Hoyer. Weeden. Campbell. The Browns never-ending QB carousel is nothing if not entertaining. Head coach Rob Chudzinski once and for all ended the brief, inglorious Brandon Weeden era in Cleveland when he benched him this week in favour of Campbell, who gets to face the Quarterback Chewers, aka the Chiefs defence. Have fun with that.

Trindon Holliday vs. Redskins punt coverage

Holliday is one of the NFL’s most dynamic kick returners, having brought back one punt already for a score for the Broncos. The Skins are worst in the league in punt coverage, surrendering an average of 21.6 yards per return and two touchdowns already.

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THE FOUR BIG GAMES ON SUNDAY:

1. New York Jets (4-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)

Yes, this is the game of the week. And not just because no other Week 8 matchup features teams with a combined nine victories. Both teams have legit hopes to win their respective AFC divisions (East and North), and each’s defence is playing well. New York hasn’t been able to string together two wins in a row.

2. Dallas Cowboys (4-3) at Detroit Lions (4-3)

At times last Sunday, Bengals QB Andy Dalton completely picked apart the Detroit secondary. Tony Romo and Dez Bryant are rubbing their hands already. The Lions (and Bears) slipped behind the Packers in the NFC North last week and need a win to keep pace. The Cowboys secondary figures to try to swarm Megatron.

3. Washington Redskins (2-4) at Denver Broncos (6-1)

Mike Shanahan returns to Mile High, where he coached forever and led the Broncos to two late-1990s Super Bowl wins. RG3 can continue convincing us that he really has returned to full health by passing and running to his heart’s content against a suddenly woeful Broncos defence, which has allowed 106 points this month. Peyton Manning no doubt intends to bounce back from last week’s loss.

4. Miami Dolphins (3-3) at New England Patriots (5-2)

If the Dolphins intend to halt their slide (winless after a 3-0 start), this is the week to do it. The Patriots are life-and-death merely to pick up first downs anymore, and are dinged up in the defensive front. Still, look for the Pats to tee off on Ryan Tannehill as much as every other team that faces that woeful Miami O-line.

More optimism, less doom and gloom surrounds Bills

At this point a year ago, the Buffalo Bills were 3-4. Same as this year.

So why is there so much less gloom, and so much more optimism, surrounding this club?

Seven reasons:

1. DOUG MARRONE: The new head coach boldly put up motivational signs around One Bills Drive in the spring, reminding not just players but everyone in the organization what their ultimate goal should be, and is: to win a Super Bowl. Some laughed. Cynics snickered. But players didn’t. Perhaps the best message Marrone continually reinforces, emblazoned on a banner inside the team’s indoor practice facility is “Don’t confuse effort with results.”